iOS 4.2 supports technology for reducing network congestion

Nokia Siemens Networks revealed Tuesday that the company had conducted tests confirming that the iOS 4.2 update for iPhone supports its Network Controlled Fast Dormancy technology, which minimizes network congestion and improves battery life.

Network Controlled Fast Dormancy (NCFD), which was developed by Nokia Siemens Networks, reduces network congestion by keeping smartphones in an "intermediate state" instead of alternating between idle and always active on the network.

From this intermediate state, smartphones can "wake up" more quickly while conserving battery life when not in use. NCFD also reduces the number of signals needed to start a data connection between a smartphone and a network.

The post did not explain what kinds of tests Nokia Siemens Networks ran to confirm the iPhone's support of the technology, but did state that the iPhone will take advantage of NCFD on networks that support it. Nokia implemented NCFD into its own smartphones earlier this year, the post noted.

According to one Middle Eastern operator, smartphones on a Nokia Siemens Networks network had 11 hours of battery life compared to 6 hours on a competing network. Testing in North America found that Nokia Siemens Networks' "smart networks" generate "up to 50 percent less smartphone signaling."

It is unclear to what extent NCFD has been implemented on the AT&T network, but the new technology could serve to lighten the load for the sole carrier of the iPhone in the U.S., which has been criticized for poor coverage in major cities such as New York and San Francisco.

Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journalreported that AT&T executives had flown to Apple's Cupertino, Calif., campus to give iPhone designers a "crash course in wireless networking." As a result, Apple "rejiggered" how its smartphones communicate with AT&T towers, reducing the strain on the AT&T network.

Since the update, I will start using the phone at 9:00, say, and if it's basically idle, or just reading mail and making a call or two, the battery will still be at 70% at 2:00 in the morning. That's a real improvement from what I was getting.

Of course, if I watch a feature film on it, and then play Rage HD, I'll need a charge by 5:00 in the afternoon.

From this intermediate state, smartphones can "wake up" more quickly while conserving battery life when not in use. NCFD also reduces the number of signals needed to start a dataIt is unclear to what extent NCFD has been implemented on the AT&T network, but the new technology could serve to lighten the load for the sole carrier of the iPhone in the U.S., which has been criticized for poor coverage in major cities such as New York and San Francisco.

Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reported that AT&T executives had flown to Apple's Cupertino, Calif., campus to give iPhone designers a "crash course in wireless networking." As a result, Apple "rejiggered" how its smartphones communicate with AT&T towers, reducing the strain on the AT&T network.

Yeah honestly I'm seeing double the battery life with iPhone 4, whether or not this schmancy thing applies to my current telco. Too bad no one here does authorised iPhone battery replacements unlike the US. That, sucks.

They'll have to wait a little while since they don't use NSN's RNCs. They'll have to wait until Ericsson brings the same feature out as well. NSN is the first to bring it out, but it is an open 3GPP standard so Huawei and Ericsson are likely to introduce the feature as well since it doesn't take a whole lot of development on the network side.

Another interesting thinkg would be to know if iOS 4.2 supports CPC and CS over HSPA. If it does these, it would improve talk time by another 50% for voice calls with the right networks.